Highly Chemo- and Regioselective Vinylation of N-Heteroarenes with Vinylsulfonium Salts.

An efficient chemo- and regioselective N-vinylation of N-heteroarenes has been developed using vinylsulfonium salts. The reaction proceeded under mild and transition-metal-free conditions and consistently provided moderate to high yields of vinylation products with 100% E-stereoselectivity. This reaction is also highly chemoselective, and compatible with a variety of functional groups, such as -NHR, -NH2, -OH, -COOH, ester, etc.